Abstract

COMBES, Isabelle. Diary of an Idiot. The exploration of the Pilcomayo River by Enrique van Nivel (Bolivia, 1844). Rev. Mus. Antropol. [online]. 2019, vol.12, n.2, pp.93-100. ISSN 1852-060X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.31048/1852.4826.v12.n2.24342.

In 1844, Enrique Van Nivel commanded an expedition by land and the Pilcomayo River aimed to find a path towards Paraguay. Since the beginning several authors realized the exagerations and falsehoods in his travel report, regarding both the distance covered and the estimation of indigenous peoples encountered. This paper focuses on another fishy aspect of the diary: the fact that Van Nivel blamed the native groups and particularly his Toba guide Yumay for the failure of his project.

Keywords : Pilcomayo; Enrique van Nivel; Toba; Exploration; Travelogues.

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